Following in His footsteps
When Joey Moser leaves his day job as a movie theater manager in Cranberry Township, he trades his tie and khaki pants for a flowing robe and sandals.
"They're freakishly comfortable," Moser said of the lightweight Balera Lyrical shoes, often worn by dancers.
Chosen for their silent presence onstage, Moser wears the shoes while portraying Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar," being performed at the Comtra Theatre.
With weekend performances through April 14, the 1970s rock opera is just one religious drama offered during the Easter season. Although the Easter stories usually depict Christ as alone in his plight, Moser is among a group entrusted with his portrayal.
What would Jesus do?Shawn Roskovski of Butler Township portrayed Jesus in "Hosanna in the Highest," a drama set to music recently at First United Methodist Church in Butler.Beginning with Christ's jubilant welcome into Jerusalem, the story leads its audience through the Crucifixion and Resurrection.When approached to play the role by director Donna Gumpper, Roskovski said he grappled with his own worthiness and qualifications."I was sensitive about it from the word go," said Roskovski, a manager at AK Steel."I was initially concerned that I would disrespect the Lord in my vain attempt to portray him."
With little acting experience and no living mentor, Roskovski recalls looking at Bible stories in a new light — wondering about the gamut of emotions that must have surged as the human side of Christ anticipated his death."I think Jesus knew what he was meant to do, but he was frightened," Roskovski said, citing Christ's requests that his disciples stay awake with him in the olive garden Gethsemane."I think when the Scriptures say he sweat blood, he was agonizing. ... I think his human side was very alone."Although he applied a human perspective to the role, Roskovski said participating in the drama also fed his faith.Encouraged by Gumpper to "live in the spirit" throughout the project, Roskovski said awareness of God and relationships with peers deepened as the production evolved."Involvement with others who are like-minded really rubs off," he said."I am really on a spiritual high right now."Brandon Schmitt, a graduate student at Slippery Rock University, also portrayed Jesus in a church drama, using his faith as a guide."The last acting experience I had was in a church play in junior high. I was one of the three kings. I think maybe in elementary school I was a donkey," said Schmitt, a part of Slippery Rock United Methodist Church's recent production of "More Than Just a Man."Also without a mentor, Schmitt said he looked inward to find his way in the role."Well, you pray about it, and ask the Lord to give you the right words," he said."Everybody has their own interpretation of how Christ would have acted or how he would have been, so I used (mine)."Like Roskovski, Schmitt considered the drama a service to God, with serious moments as well as good times."People said stuff to be funny," he said of playful remarks comparing him to Jesus."I'd typically respond, 'Yeah but he probably had much better hair than I did.'"Although Moser graduated from Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts, he didn't expect to play Jesus. Having auditioned for the part of Judas, his early rehearsals were spent getting a handle on the unexpected role.Unlike some of his peers, Moser lacked a strong Christian background to inspire his performance. A trained actor, he relied instead on information in the script.But in the end, his interpretation was not unlike Roskovski's."I started to realize halfway through the rehearsal process that ... Jesus was not (always) this devoid person, but he was just a normal man. Just like every other normal person he goes through a range of emotions."Also like Roskovski, Moser's production was largely musical, with few or no spoken lines.Where Roskovski was mostly silent with a few uttered words, Moser was either silent or singing. In these situations he also was required to shift between gentle and passionate as the Crucifixion neared — accomplishing that goal through changing body language or the timbre of his voice."You have to have that ability to show all emotions, which a lot of people don't," said director Darryl Kirschner, who has directed "Superstar" multiple times."Some people come out and want to do everything very harsh. Joey can go from harsh to loving and a myriad of things in between."
Unlike many stage productions of "Superstar," Kirschner chose minimal props to avoid breaking the mood with set changes, relying instead on talent, script and song."Most people who do ("Superstar") will have a blackout and change the set. I chose to do it the way they did it in the original, which was a continuous flow from one scene to another."When you change a scene ... you lose the whole idea."In the case of First United Methodist, Gumpper chose to use props and makeup to punctuate the story.Glued-on extensions supplemented Roskovski's own hair, which was dyed and which he had also grown out along with his beard.Scars, complete with stage blood, were applied beneath his robes — revealed in later depictions of a beaten-down Christ in tatters.A life-size cross is also used, and quiet singing tells the story as Roskovski begins to lug his cross through the sanctuary."People start crying when they see him coming. The cross is really, really heavy," Gumpper said."Shawn's in really good shape, and you watch him struggling."During this time, the script demonstrates biblical stories of Jesus being flogged before the crucifixion.Initially in rehearsal, the whip was aimed only at the cross, avoiding Roskovski's back. But in the live performance, Roskovski was hit at his own suggestion."He jerks," Gumpper recounted, noting people's horror at hearing the whip hit Roskovski's skin."It was very loud," she said.Kim Johnson of Butler Township was among those in the audience."It really moved me, and there were actually people crying in the pews," she said."You were in the moment with him — I was anyway," agreed Cathy Noullet of Center Township, whose husband is an associate pastor at the Butler Assembly of God."When he was suffering, you could see it."Roskovski and Gumpper said along with props and makeup, a personal connection with the script helped link them to the audience.Schmitt also used his faith as a tool."I tried to be as authentic as possible. I guess the things I was saying were things I really really believe in. It makes it easier to go out there and say it with meaning."Schmitt said reciting Scripture aloud instead of reading it silently also helped to affirm his faith."Having the opportunity to represent that to people is a blessing. If you ever get the opportunity to serve, I'd definitely say take it. Even if you have some hesitations, be faithful and go with it. God will get you through it."Such an approach was equally successful for Roskovski, who — after the Resurrection — participated in joyful song to conclude the drama, making further contact with those in the pews."The kids were really drawn to him, and so were (older) people,' Gumpper said."He was touching people in the audience and making eye contact with them, and that's a big thing too — because that makes them a part of it."But spiritual satisfaction also resulted for Roskovski, who described a humility that grew as the project went on."I was just really honored to do it in the truest sense," he said."I guess I'm just waiting to see Jesus in Heaven and hear him say, 'I didn't think you looked anything like me.'"
